I think that everyone wants to support ethical fashion brands. I’m pretty sure if you ask anyone, “Hey do you condone slave labor to make cheap clothes?” The answer is going to no.
When it comes to actually purchasing clothing it can be difficult because:
a. you might not know of any ethical fashion brands.
b. you can’t easily go to a store to try the items on
c. it can be expensive!
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We view ethical fashion as expensive for many reasons, but one of them is that we’ve driven the cost of fashion down so far that what is actually a reasonable price and one that was normal until the 80s seems extreme or high.
But, no matter how many times you hear that fact, it still hurts to part with $100 for a dress when you could buy four for that price at the mall. Trust me… I understand.
But, I also really want to support sustainable makers and have been able to curb my shopping habits in a few ways.
Waiting 30 days before making a purchase
Asking myself these five questions BEFORE I buy
Making sure it fits with my core style and colors (more on this to come)
Making sure the measurements are appropriate for my body shape.
But, I wanted to round up a few ethical brands that have cute pieces you can snag for under $100.
I can’t stand it when I read these .blog articles and the only thing under $100 is a white t-shirt. I want to be able to buy something cute! So, I’ve done my best to round up those items.
Of course, all of these brands do offer more expensive items and you can also score a bunch of even better deals off the sales rack.
1. tamga designs:
I love these bright colored pieces! Tamga is a member of 1% for the planet and sustainability is at the core of their message.
:At TAMGA we believe sustainability in the fashion industry is one of the greatest challenges of our time. If this sounds a bit far-fetched, think about how much clothing you’ve owned in your life.
“Now imagine more than 7 billion people with the same amount. Every piece of clothing has an impact, from chemical usage, to water, emissions, energy, and wages for garment workers.
”Sustainability in the fashion industry means finding ways to reduce this impact from design, through wear, to the end of a garment’s life. Ultimately, we’ll only be sustainable if we can create and re-create fashion through renewable materials, recyclable garments and wages that enable workers to thrive.”
My picks! Bella Poncho $69 & Lotus Cami $85
2. armed angels:
Armed Angels is based in Europe and their transparence is pretty amazing. You can read more about their supply chain here.
“Organic is not just a trend for us it’s our belief and taking responsibility and protecting our environment is not an option but a must.
“Therefore, we only use sustainable materials such as organic cotton, organic linen, organic wool, recycled polyester, Lenzing Modal® and Tencel®. To show that these are not just empty words, we have been GOTS certified since 2011.
“It takes a lot of sweat and time to produce clothes as many people are involved in this long process. It is our responsibility to make sure that every single one of them works under fair conditions.
“No matter if they are a cotton farmer in India, a sewer in Turkey or a designer in Germany. We are far from perfect. We just want to do the right thing.
“Step by step, every day. Organisations like Fairtrade or Fair Wear Foundation help us to implement our high standards.”
My picks! Solenaa Dispersed Flowers Skirt $78 & Ylvaa Organic Cotton Sweater
3. people tree:
Most thing at people tree other than their basic tees are over a hundred dollars. But, they do have a few fun pieces!
“People Tree actively supports farmers, producers and artisans through 14 producer groups, in 6 countries.
“We are a part of the WFTO community and a representative of Fair Trade, this means far more than paying a fair price, we provide technical assistance for producers, so they can improve their skills, strengthen their businesses and have a positive social impact.
“It is a partnership between producers and traders, which aims at sustainable development for excluded and economically disadvantaged people in developing countries.”
My picks! Peter Jensen Pineapple Tee $71 & Renata Paisley Top $77
4. everlane:
Everlane is known for their basics you’re not going to find a ton of fun prints and colors, but they do make great staples!
“At Everlane, we want the right choice to be as easy as putting on a great T-shirt.
“That’s why we partner with the best, ethical factories around the world. Source only the finest materials. And share those stories with you—down to the true cost of every product we make. It’s a new way of doing things. We call it Radical Transparency.”
My picks! The Japanese GoWeave Wrap Tank Dress $100 & Clean Silk Relaxed Shirt $98
5. amour vert:
There’s no shock here, but I LOVE Amour Vert. I’ve been a big fan for along time. They’re made locally to me right here in SF and their sustainable fabrics are so luxurious. If you’re looking for cute prints and work appropriate clothes then look no further.
Most of their pieces are over $100 except for their tees. But, they do have nice colored tees that are more interesting than just the plain basic shape.
“We are sustainable fashion. We create beautiful clothing with versatility in mind. We pioneer entirely new fabrics that don’t pollute. Our local supply chain and distribution channels have the lowest possible environmental impact.”
My picks! Melis Key Hole Tank $48 & Inna Twist Neck Top $78
6. reformation:
This cool girl brand has been in the spotlight a lot. They have a sexy effortless feeling to their clothes. In my opinion, they’re a little too revealing for work clothes (if you work in an office), but they are perfect for going out and weekending.
“We put sustainability at the center of everything we do. It is an evolving goal and definition, and we don’t have all the answers. But we want to focus on efforts that have the biggest impact. It influences four main areas: Product; People; Planet; Progress”
My picks! Rou Dress $98 & Alexis Top $78
7. sanchos:
This little boutique in the UK offers some sustainable basics at very reasonable price. They have a few interesting pieces, but find their selection to be mostly full of basics.
“Our two sustainable shops are based in Exeter, Devon. Unlike shops that you may find on the high street we source clothing that is certified fair trade and is constructed from sustainable natural materials. In both our men's and women's stores, we stock a carefully curated range of clothing, accessories and gifts from organic and fair trade producers.”
My picks! Mini Pini in Ash Pink $49 & Kikii Dress in Ocean Blue $84
8. yala:
Yala is all about simple, comfortable pieces. Most of their pieces are pretty basic and look SUPER comfy. They look like they could easily transition from work wear to weekending to lounging at home. They also have a nice pajama selection.
“Our commitment to responsibility lives in the materials we choose, the ethical partners we work with, our employee benefits, community involvement and so much more. All of this is to satisfy our responsibility to you. Take comfort in how our clothes feel, look and are made.”
One of the dresses I chose is $108… I know it’s over a hundred but it’s my FAV.
My picks! Cecilia $108 & Geneva Skirt $86
9. tentree:
Tentree is one of my favorite sustainable brands. I love their clothes for lounging and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for quirky, natured based graphic tees, this is the place for you! For every piece of clothing ten trees is planted. You can read more about their sustainability initiatives in this post about my five favorite hiking essentials.
“At tentree, our goal is to become the most environmentally progressive brand on the planet. We don’t want to just reduce the negative impact of the apparel industry, we want to use it as a vehicle for change.
“Our purpose is to revitalize our environment and inspire a generation to believe that they can do the same. Our goal is to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.”
My picks! TenTree Camp Trees $79 & Positive Impact Tee $37
10. thought:
Thought has some beautiful pieces with beautiful colors, patterns, and classic silhouettes. These pieces would be great to wear to work and parties!
“Creating Thoughtful Clothing alone isn’t enough. We value doing the right thing and want to feel good about everything we touch.
“That means we work ethically. From the fabrics we use, to how we design and make and deliver our garments. We think about every impact our business has. And it’s with the greater aim of minimising our environmental footprint.
We’re also proud supporters of slow fashion, which is why we design clothing intended to last. We hope the contemporary, easy-to-wear pieces will become your favourites.”
My picks! Blomst Bamboo Dress $76 & Cassia Printed Jersey Tunic $44
11. made trade:
Made Trade is unique in that they offer a variety of different pieces from different artisans and makers all over the world.
Their goal and mission is to make shopping easy by doing all of the hard homework for you! They figure out the answers to questions like, “Where was it made? How was it made? Was the maker paid a living wage? Were the materials sourced responsibly?”
You can read more about their process here.
If an article of clothing (or home goods!), can answer all of the questions positively, then it makes it into the shop so you can feel good about the pieces that you’re buying. And, many of their pieces come in under a hundred dollars!
12. outerknown:
Outerknown is Kelly Slater’s clothing line, and they’re super sustainable! Check out their sustainability initiatives. They just released a women’s line last year, and I have been absolutely loving it.
They’re committed to transparency, ethical manufacturing, and sustainable sourcing of materials. They’ve got organic cotton for days, and organic cotton uses 90% less water than conventional.
Plus, they have men and women's clothing so it’s nice to snag some pieces for Justin too.
My picks! The Folk Top $98 & Oasis Top $78
I hope you’ve discovered a few new ethical brands, let me know if you have any favorites in the comment section down below?
